The Most Important Piece of Equipment I own is...

my Brain

Believe it or not, you are actually hiring me for my brain/mind and the images and experience that fills it. As I shoot an images for you I see a "finished" image in my head... even though the reality at the moment might look quite different to the camera. Then after the shoot my mind works to create the finished image I "saw" when I took the picture.

A simple real world example of how My Brain and experience produces better images for you is illustrated by the two simple images below.

At a recent wedding I and my assistant photographer shot very a similar image 5 minutes apart. The images were shot at the same location, with the same subject, 5 minutes apart. Each photographer had the same tools and resources available, however, based on my experience, and what I saw in my mind as the finished image, I made different decisions about what lens to use, what exposure to use, what ISO to use, and what direction to face the bride. I produced the image on the right. (These are RAW images straight from the camera.)

The first thing you will notice is that the image on the left has a lot of grain/noise (little dots) where my image on the right shows virtually none. This comes from using top of the line equipment.

You can see great detail in my image. You can count the hairs on her head.

Notice the lighting on my image (right). The light comes from the left creating a light and dark side to her face, this gives the face dimensionality (roundness) and makes the face look thinner.

Notice how the headboard behind the bride in the right image is soft and buttery - where in the left picture it is in focus and detracts from the beauty of the bride.